I remember the bathroom in my childhood home had a shower head and a bathtub, but the former rarely worked.
Honestly, it was fun as a kid since I could have bubble baths with all my toys and enjoy my bath time. But as I grew older, taking a bath in the tub with just the tap on was quite a hassle. I remember thinking that I would make sure the shower head worked when I had a house of my own!
And so I did. Once my husband and I moved to our house, I checked all the shower heads and got them repaired if required. The days of uncomfortable showers were behind me, or so I thought. Turns out, a well-functioning shower head requires a lot of maintenance, and sometimes it needs to be replaced altogether.
Hi there! My name is Stacy, and if a shower head is disrupting your routine, there is a chance it needs to be removed and fixed. Now, removing the shower head is easy, but what happens when there are no tools nearby? That is precisely what I am here to tell you about.
Now, without further ado, let’s get right to it!
Reasons To Remove A Shower Head
Before getting into the methods of removing the shower head, let’s get into why a shower head needs to be removed in the first place.
A. Style Update
One of the most common reasons is because it is old, worn out, and not in style. Most people like to update their bathroom fixtures as time goes by, and shower heads are no exception.
Nowadays, there are many features such as “hot” and “cold” markings, rotating shower heads for different pressures, and whatnot. There is no harm in keeping up with the time.
B. Low Pressure
There are multiple reasons why the water pressure in the shower could be low, and one of them is a blockage in the shower head. Over prolonged use, there is a chance of contaminants in the water depositing in the shower head. Due to the deposit, you might have to remove the shower head to clean it up or replace it with a new one.
C. Making It User-Friendly
I mentioned there are multiple features in new age shower heads that are pretty attractive to people. However, older people may find it hard to use them as they can be quite complicated.
Additionally, if there are adjustable features in the shower head, there is a chance that people with mobility issues may not be able to use it. In such a case, it is best to replace such shower heads with those that are easy to use.
How To Remove Shower Head Without A Wrench
A shower head can be removed in multiple ways without spending large amounts of money on a professional service. But before you remove it, here is what you need to do for preparation.
A. Turn Off Main Water Supply
Just like how you would turn off the power supply before any electrical repair work, the same logic applies to water. The first thing you will have to do is shut down the water. This is mainly done so that you are not attacked by gushing water at any point.
B. Cover Everything
Even though the water is turned off, there is still a chance things can get messy. This is why it is best to cover the rest of the bathroom fixtures that may get affected.
Additionally, you can use any oil to loosen the shower head from the pipe. I had a few options like a spray lubricant, but I tried using vinegar as my neighbor Erine told me it works, and it did! Also, if there is any rust on the shower head, use a limescale remover.
Removing A Shower Head
If the shower head is loose enough, you can remove it by hand. However, there are a few other ways you can remove the shower head with some everyday objects. These methods can also help loosen it before removing it by hand.
A. With A Belt
Step 1: First, you need to loop the belt into the buckle and create an “O” of the size of the shower head.
Step 2: Then, put the shower head through the belt and tighten it to ensure a snug fit. Make sure that the belt strap is not in the same direction in which the shower head opens. For example, the belt should point to the left if the shower head opens towards the right.
Step 3: After that, all you need to do is grip hard and pull the strap back in the direction it opens. The force you apply while pulling the strap should loosen the shower head.
B. With Tape
If you do not have a wrench, duct tape is the next best thing.
Step 1: Cut two pieces of tape that are around 6 inches long and layer them on top of each other. Make sure it is not layered all the way through and has a little sticky portion left.
Step 2: Stick the remaining portion on the shower head and pull in the direction it opens.
Conclusion
And there you have it, folks! A short guide on how to remove shower head without a wrench. I hope this will help when you’re looking to make a make-shift wrench.
Before leaving, I would like to offer some advice. Once you have removed the shower head, I recommend soaking it in some vinegar to make sure it is clean. It is the best way to get rid of any deposits that could be hiding in there. Additionally, you can use a brush after the soak for a thorough clean.
On that note, I shall now sign off. I’ll be back with many more tips and tricks to deal with everyday problems.
See you next time!